Year 1, Week 31, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 31, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 1 Samuel 23-24; Psalm 7.

Today’s reading continues describing the jealousy and hatred that Saul has toward David. David continues to be on the run as Saul is constantly receiving reports of David’s whereabouts. 1 Samuel 23 describes David’s efforts to rescue the people of Keilah from Philistine attacks, only to have to flee from Keilah when David learns that the people will hand him over to Saul. David continues eluding Saul and is visited by Jonathan who strengthens David with the words: “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this” (1 Samuel 23:17). 1 Samuel 24 records further episodes of David on the run, but in particular, it notes an instance that Saul enters a cave not knowing that David is in there and has the opportunity to exact revenge. But David does not exact revenge and when he informs Saul of the opportunity that he had, Saul is remorseful: “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil…I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand” (1 Samuel 24:17,20). But Saul’s remorse and confession, as we will soon see, will not last long.

One of the things that struck me is the continuous supply that David experiences of confidence in the LORD’s faithful presence: “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them” (Psalm 54:4-5). The people of Keilah as well as the Ziphites turn on David and notify Saul as to David’s location: “Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon? Now come down, O king, according to all your heart's desire to come down, and our part shall be to surrender him into the king's hand” (1 Samuel 23:19-20). While David can be counted on to help them, David can not count on them to help him. David, even while on the run, David was busy doing what Saul should have been doing: rescuing Israelites from the Philistines. But Saul is more fixated on tracking down David than he is in going up against Philistines. Even after Saul temporarily defends against the Philistines, he quickly resumes his bent on tracking down and killing David. While the LORD provides key encouragement from Jonathan, David’s supporters are a clear minority. 

But David trusts in the LORD to work things out in His time and in His way. When handed the opportunity, David is encouraged by his men to enact vengeance: “Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you” (1 Samuel 24:4). David interprets his opportunity for revenge in light of what he knows is morally right: “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD'S anointed.” So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul” (1 Samuel 24:6-7a). In fact, David is grieved even for taking the opportunity to clip a small section of Saul’s robe: “David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe” (1 Samuel 24:5). It mattered to David, not simply that he received the kingdom that he was promised, but how he would come to take possession of the kingdom. David seeks God’s plan in accordance with God’s will.

David not only refrains from harming Saul, he also shows respect toward Saul: “Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage” (1 Samuel 24:8). David explained to Saul that he had him, but did not: “For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you” (2 Samuel 24:11-12). David promises that he will never lay a hand on Saul to harm him, but David does not request a reciprocal promise from Saul. Perhaps David knows that such a promise by Saul would not mean much. David appeals to the LORD: “May the LORD therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand” (1 Samuel 24:15). David knows that he is in the LORD’s hands; David knows that it is the LORD in whom he can trust to bring about a just outcome. David knew that Saul would face vengeance, but David knew he must leave that with the LORD: “Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’ For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants” (Deuteronomy 32:35-36b). And while David waited for the LORD to act, he “and his men went up to the stronghold” (1 Samuel 24:22b). David entrusted vengeance to the LORD: “Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment” (Psalm 7:6).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe